Stock-marker.



O. P. MOFFITT. STOGK MARKER.

APPLIOATION FILED D3011, 1908.

9 1 7,96 1 Patented Apr. 13, .1909.

ruz NORRIS PETER: c0., WASHINGTON, :1 c

FETCH CASPER F. MOFFITT, OF KOSHKONONG, MISSOURI.

STOCK-MAR'JEER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed December 1, 1908. Serial No. 4.65,!556.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CASPER F. Morrrrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Koshkonong, in the county of Oregon and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stock-Markers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in stock markers, and has for its main object the provision of a device of this character by means of which a number of difi'erent marks may be made by the same tool.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stock marker which may be operated with safety with respect both to the operator and the animal, which will be quick and positive in its action, and which will be practical and eflicient in every way.

Va ith these and other objects in view, my invention comprises a pair of .pivoted handles, one of the handles provided with a jaw to form an anvil, there being a supporting plate or head rotatably carried by the other jaw and this so-called head carrying a number of different cutters or knives to cooperate with the anvil jaw for marking the stock.

My invention embodies certain other novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as disclosed hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a side elevation of my inven tion. Fig. 2, is a detail view of the rotatable head which carries the knives or cutters.

My invention resembles somewhat a pair of pliers, it consisting of a pair of pivoted handles 1, one of which handles is extended forwardly to form a flatjaw 2, while the jaw of the opposite handle is cut ofi short as at 3. Centrally located on the face of the shortened jaw is the pivot stud 4, on which is rotatably held the plate or head 5, which is preferably square and of the same size as the face or end of the jaw. A longitudinal seat or bore 6, extends inwardly from the face of the jaw, and in said bore is seated a locking plunger 7, the outer end of which projects past the face of the jaw and is adapted to interlock with the openings 8, in the head, to lock the head against rotation. The spring 9, bearing against the inner end of the plunger tends to hold the locking plunger in engagement with the openings or seats in the head, and the button 10, carried by the plunger and projecting through the slot 11, in the side of the jaw, serves asa means for operating the plunger.

A series of knives, designated as 12, 13, 1 1 and 15, are carried by the rotary head, the knives having threaded shanks 16, which are engaged in screw threaded openings 17, in the head, and the knives are so arranged and spaced as to cooperate with the anvil plate 18, secured to the face of the flat jaw 2. This anvil plate is preferably made of hard rubber so as not to dull the knives and in order that it may be readily cleaned and kept so.

The four knives 12, 13, 1st and 15, which I have shown, are commonly known among stockmen as the swallow fork hit, hole and split respectively, the first being adapted to form an angular pointed gash in the side of the animals ear, the second a more blunt and somewhat rounded gash known as the bit the third, a clean hole straight through the ear and the fourth, which is a straight blade, being used to split the ear, to clip off the end of the ear, known as cropping or to clip the upper or lower edge, known as upper slope and under slope respectively. It

*ill be noted hat the cutting edge of the round cutter or hole knife is laterally offset from the shank of the knife so that the shank of the knife will not interfere and the cutter will make a clean hole.

When the tool is to be used, the head is rotated until the proper knife is brought around directly over the anvil plate and the rotary head is locked in this position by the sliding bolt or plunger. The spring 19, between the handles serves to hold the jaws normally apart or distended ready to receive the ear of the animal and after the animals ear is inserted between the jaws, the jaws are brought together, and the member is cleanly marked according to the knife which is being used.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be evident that I have produced a stock marker which is thoroughly practical and efiicient and one which accomplishes the objects herein aimed at.

I claim:

1. In a stock marker, the combination with a pair of pivoted jaws, of an anvil plate carried by one jaw, and knives carried by the opposite jaw to cooperate with said anvil plate, the jaw carrying the knives having a flat face provided with a centrally disposed threaded stud, the plate which carries the knives having a central opening to receive said stud, and a series of threaded openings to receive the knives, and means mounted in the jaw for engaging the knife carrying plate.

2. In a stock marker, the combination with pivoted jaws, of a series of knives carried by one aw to cooperate with the other aw, and means for holding any of said jaws in operative position, one of thejaws being extended horizontally and formed-with a recess to receive the anvil plate, the other jaw being shortened and formed with a flat face, a stud arranged central of said fiat face, a rotary head having an opening to receive the stud and provided with openings to receive the knives and with an additional series of smaller openings, and a sliding spring plate fitted in said head and adapted to engage one of said series of smaller openings to secure the head at the proper adjustment according to the knife to be used.

3. A stock marker comprising a pair of pivoted jaws, a head rotatably secured to one of the jaws, means for locking the head, knives carried by the head to cooperate with the other jaw, one of the jaws being extended horizontally and formed with a recess to receive the anvil plate, the other jaw being shortened and formed with a flat face, a stud arranged central of said flat face, a rotary head having an opening to receive the stud and provided with openings to receive the knives and with an additional series of smaller openings, and a sliding spring plate fitted in said head and adapted to engage one of said series of smaller-openings to secure the head at the proper adjustment according to the knife to be used.

a. In combination, a pair of pivoted jaws, an anvil plate carried by one jaw, a rotary head on the opposite jaw, implements carried by the rotary head to cooperate with the anvil plate, and means for locking the rotary head, one of the jaws being extended horizontally and formed with a recess to receive the anvil plate, the other jaw be ing shortened and formed with a flat face, a stud arranged central of said flat face, a

rotary head having an opening to receive the stud and provided with openings to receive the knives and 'with an additional series of smaller openings, and a sliding spring plate fitted in said head and adapted to engage one of said series of smaller openings to secure the head at the properadjustment according to the knife to be used.

5. In a stock marker, the combination with a pair of jaws, a hard rubber facing plate to one of the jaws, a rotary head on the opposite jaw, cutters of difierent shape carried by the head, and a sliding bolt mounted in the jaw to engage and lock the rotary head, one of the jaws being extended horizontally and formed with a recess to receive the anvil plate, the other jaw being shortened and formed with a flat face, a stud arranged central of said flat face, a rotary head having an opening to receive the stud and provided with openings to receive the knives and with an additional series of smaller openings, and a sliding spring plate fitted in said head and adapted to engage one of said series of smaller openings to secure the head at the proper adjustment according to the knife to be used.

6. A pair of pivoted handles, one having a flat jaw extension and the other a foreshortened jaw, a facing plate carried by the flat aw, a rotary lead on the foreshortened jaw, cutters mounted 011 the head to cooperate with the facing plate, a sliding bolt adapted to engage and lock the head sta tionary, one of the aws being extended horizontally and formed with a recess to receive the anvil plate, the other jaw being shortened and. formed with a flat face, a stud arranged central of said flatface, a rotary head having an opening to receive the stud and provided with openings to receive the knives and with an additional series of smaller openings, and a sliding spring plate fitted in said head and adapted to engage one of said series of smaller openings to secure the head at t-he proper adjustment according to the knife to be used.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CASPER F; MOFFITT. Witnesses Jnrr D. \Vnannzsov, Same C. HOLLOWAY. 

